Some weeks ago I was asked to visit a patient in the General Hospital. A change had been made in the visiting hours, so I found myself in the ward before the house doctor had time to finish his afternoon round. I was about to withdraw, but a patient who occupied the bed nearest the door invited me to sit down by her for a little while. "Now," she said, "maybe you can tell me the words I am trying to remember.”
Mrs. Baldwin's story was soon told. She had entered the hospital recently, very ignorant of the things of God, and careless about her soul. She continued, "A few days ago a lady came into the ward. She brought each of us some flowers. I was so ill and tired, and I did not want to talk; so when she came near me I turned my face to the wall as if asleep. She laid the flowers on my pillow and passed on.
"When I heard her going downstairs I picked the flowers up. It seemed to do me good just to look at them. Then I saw that the flowers were not all: there was a card with some writing on it. I read the words over and over again, and wondered what they could mean. Pretty soon I began to care more for the card than I did for the flowers! As I read I could not help weeping. It seemed as if all my life came to mind, and I felt I was a great sinner. When night came I put my card away. In the morning I could not find it, and the words had gone out of my mind. I should like to know what they were.”
"Try to remember one word, and I will ask the Lord, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to bring the right verse to my mind," I said.
"There was the word 'sin' in it, and that seems about all I can think of," Mrs. Baldwin answered.
"Were these the words? Tor the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.'" Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
The look of disappointment that clouded the face of poor Mrs. Baldwin was sad to witness. "No," she answered, "those are not the ones I am trying to remember.”
"The very words—the very words! Oh, how thankful I am!" cried Mrs. Baldwin. "And you are quite sure they are in the Bible?”
I read the words to her from the Book. For some time we talked of the wonderful love of God to perishing, lost mankind. I do not know—perhaps I never shall know on earth—the result of that afternoon's conversation, for when the next visiting day came around I found that Mrs. Baldwin had returned to her own home. But I do know who has said: "So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isa. 55:1111So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11). So in simple, happy confidence I leave it with Him.
Reader, has the question of sin ever made you anxious or unhappy? Have you ever thought of it as a dread reality involving the most tremendous consequences?
If so, peace of conscience and rest of heart are to be found—where? In prayers, or tears, or works? No, in simple faith in what the Word of God declares concerning the all-cleansing blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Believe it: and then, but not till then, your heart will be attracted in grateful love to Him.